Chapter 16
My blood ran cold at the rage in Raphael’s eyes. I froze, like prey who recognized they were in a predator’s sights.
The guys pushed in tighter around me, taking up a defensive stance. Panic coursed through as a million curses flew through my mind. Two seconds in The Assembly’s presence and things were already going to hell.
Delphine’s brow furrowed as she stared at Raphael. “What’s the meaning of this?”
“They’ve mate bonded,” he spat. “They’re trying to cover it with a spell, but my senses are too good for that.”
The Assembly and clan leaders all spoke at once, each one talking over the other. But Patrick simply glared in our direction. Fury pulsed through his gaze as it turned molten silver.
Marjorie, the caster assemblywoman, stared at us. “Is this true?”
Colt stepped forward, the other guys closing the circle around me as he did. “We mean no disrespect to The Assembly, but our mate was dying. We didn’t have a choice.”
“No disrespect?” Alister barked. “This is the epitome of disrespect. The Assembly gave you one rule, and you shat all over it.”
Colt slowly turned toward Damien’s father. “While I have all the admiration in the world for The Assembly, there is a higher calling. Fate and destiny, the givers of our gifts, will always hold my greatest allegiance. They gave me Leighton, and I will do anything to protect her.”
A clear threat laced his words. Colt would end anyone who tried to come between us. My pulse thrummed in my neck as Alister’s eyes bled red. I knew that if we weren’t surrounded by people right now, he would’ve gone for Colt’s throat. Maybe he still would.
Patrick let out a low growl. “You can’t honestly believe we’ll all fall for this bullshit. That you break the governs of our world and use the fates as your excuse.”
“Let’s all take a breath,” Delphine said calmly, her braids swishing around her as she scanned the group. “Tell us what happened.”
“There is no excuse,” Patrick bellowed. “They must pay for what they’ve done. We must set an example and swiftly.”
Delphine’s eyes narrowed on him. “You are not in charge here, Patrick.”
His jaw turned to granite as his eyes pulsed in that liquid silver. The battle to control himself raged. But he finally ducked his head in deference.
Delphine turned back to us. “Explain.”
Colt nodded. “Leighton was kidnapped by her mother at Damien’s bidding—”
“Liar!” Alister hissed.
“Enough!” Marjorie snapped. “We will not have anyone speak unless invited to, or I will take your tongue.”
“He defames my son,” Alister argued.
Saoirse leveled him with a brutal stare. “Your son has already destroyed his name, his reputation.”
“There’s no—”
All of a sudden, Alister was speaking, but no sound came out. Panic, then anger lit his expression. Marjorie simply smiled. “Much better.” She turned to Colt. “Continue.”
Colt swallowed and did as she instructed. “Leighton was held by her mother but managed to escape. We had just found her location, thanks to a spell Dash cast, but we were too late.”
Pain filled his eyes, and for the first time, I caught a glimpse of just what this had put him through. “When we got to the beach, Maryanne was drowning Leighton.”
There were sharp breaths taken around us, shared looks and muttered oaths.
“Then Leighton had a burst of power,” Colt went on. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Pure light streamed out of her, which sent Maryanne flying.”
“She broke through her block,” Saoirse said softly.
Colt met her gaze. “We believe so. But she had stopped breathing. We tried CPR, but we could feel her fading. It was me who made the decision for us to bond with her. If there is a price to pay, I should pay it.”
“No!” I cried, bursting through the guys’ protective circle and stepping in front of Colt. “This is on me. It was my mother who put us in this position. My mates were just trying to do the right thing.”
“LeeLee,” Colt growled, trying to pull me behind him.
I shook my head vehemently. “No. I won’t let you die for me.
” Tears stung my eyes. “Please, don’t hurt them.
All they’ve ever done is try to keep me safe.
I know I’m not what you expected for their mate, but I’ll do everything I can to be worthy of it.
I’ll work harder than you can imagine, do anything you ask. ”
Ronan moved in on my other side. “Firecracker,” he said softly. “It’s us who aren’t worthy. You’re a miracle, nothing less.”
My breath hitched as I tried to keep my tears at bay.
Delphine’s expression softened. “I can see that these were truly extenuating circumstances—”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Patrick snarled. “You’re going to excuse this insolence?”
Darius’s chest puffed up as he glowered at Patrick. “Just because this means your sons won’t be under your thumb, doesn’t give you the right to show such disrespect. To The Assembly and to our future leaders.”
Patrick whirled on Darius. “We have laws. The only punishment for going against The Assembly is death.”
A whimper escaped my lips, and Ronan pulled me into his side.
“Punishments are for us to decide, Patrick,” Delphine said.
“He’s right,” Raphael argued. “We can’t allow this to stand.”
Alister straightened. “Their mate bond must be severed.”
Several gasps sounded around me. Clearly, Alister’s tongue had been loosened.
“Can they do that?” I whispered, fear digging its talons in deep.
Marjorie gaped at Alister. “That is barbaric.”
He simply shrugged. “They need to learn their lesson.”
The shifter assemblyman stared at Alister. “This is extreme, even for you.”
“Sometimes extreme is needed,” he defended.
“She’s our anchor,” Dash said, his tone deep and authoritative. He moved in close, turning me so my back was to The Assembly and lifting my shirt.
Delphine gasped. “It shouldn’t be possible.”
“But it is,” Dash assured her. “Leighton is a miracle. She has fought abuse and death to make it back to us, and we won’t lose her.”
Alister’s face deepened to a crimson shade. “I’ve heard from reliable sources that her magic is unstable. She isn’t in control. We can’t have our leaders bonded to that.”
The Assembly shared wary looks as I turned back around, the panic inside me surging back to life.
A triumphant grin spread across Patrick’s face. “You know what must happen to supernaturals who can’t control their magic.”
Blood roared in my ears as Patrick’s grin grew into a gleeful smile. “They have to be put down.”